withdrawal from MAOI in cigarettes?

[frankie1]

I am having some strange symptoms. I am a 57 year old female with no known health problems, except for some wheezing that was attributed to smoking. I am having some problems that I THINK are related to MAOI withdrawal from quitting smoking. I have been to 3 doctors (in a small area) and none seem willing to actually address the issue with me. Instead, they have me wearing a heart monitor and are doing a complete heart study. That is all well and good and I will continue the study, but I don't think that is the answer. I have had several EKGs all of which are normal. Blood work is normal. Lungs have cleared up since vaping.

I would like to discuss my particular situation with someone who is a doctor, and is knowledgeable in PV use. I am trying to do the research myself, but I don't have any medical knowledge. I think my problems might stem from MAOI withdrawal. Does anyone think that could be correct? Is there enough anti depressant in cigarettes (2PAD smoker) that cessation could be triggering withdrawal symptoms from the anti depressants?

My symptoms are consistent and occur sporadically:

Pounding heart
Rapid Pulse (last night ranged between high 90's to 120)
slight nausea
slight light headedness (this seems to be increasing)
uncomfortable feeling in legs
jerking
BM every time symptoms occur even though would not normally do so
Frequent urination - like every few minutes. I normally urinate quite a bit because I do drink a lot of water but this is more pronounced.
Elevated blood pressure (last night around 166/90)

I do NOT:
panic or halucinate
become disorientated
lose consciousness
stumble
have slurred speech
have an elevated body temperature

I had a particularly difficult time last night and had felt tired all day. I am not worried or upset about anything...until I get scared that I am having a heart attack or stroke! LOL

These bouts seem to come on each time I make a further reduction in cigarette intake. I still smoke 5-6 each day. On Tues., I didn't have a smoke at all until late afternoon. On Wed., I held it to 3 smokes until this happened around 10 PM. It seems to help if I smoke a cigarette and cover up with a blanket to get warm. Oh...I live in Florida, it is still hot here..92 right now. I have AC and keep my house around 77 degrees, so I know I am not cold.


Whew...sorry so long. I don't really know what else to do. My docs, 1 internist, 1 urgent care doc when internist couldn't see me and now a cardiologist, all seem to just blow me off when I try to discuss the problem. They don't seem to think it is related, but I think it might be. I know any responses are opinions only and I am not asking for an internet diagnosis. I would not substitute the comments for my doctors advice. I am just trying to figure out if I COULD be right and possibly get some suggestions on better information I could give to my doctor to find the problem. I don't mind the heart study...I just don't want to have a stroke while they are looking at the heart!

Thank you very much to anyone willing to respond!

[beckah54]

I can't offer any advice but I did want to tell you how sorry I am that you're going through this.......it has to be very scary.

Do you think it could partially be panic attacks or too much caffeine?

[WebJunkie]

Pounding heart
Rapid Pulse (last night ranged between high 90's to 120)
slight nausea
slight light headedness (this seems to be increasing)
uncomfortable feeling in legs
jerking,
BM every time symptoms occur even though would not normally do so
Frequent urination - like every few minutes. I normally urinate quite a bit because I do drink a lot of water but this is more pronounced.
Elevated blood pressure (last night around 166/90)

What immediately comes to mind is nicotine poisoning, or overdosing. You might try reducing your nicotine levels for a while, i'd probably start by halfing, and see if your symptoms relent or persist.

Granted, this doesn't cover everything, and perhaps you could be slightly alergic to the PG and may wish to try VG juice, but I would start by moderating your nicotine levels, personally.

Just for the record, I am not a doctor, and I don't even play one on tv.

[martha1014]

These symptoms definitely sound like too much nicotine. I have had them when first adjusting to my nicotine level.

Of course by all means continue seeing a doctor especially for the hypertension.

Good luck.

[Brewster 59]

These symptoms definitely sound like too much nicotine. I have had them when first adjusting to my nicotine level.

Of course by all means continue seeing a doctor especially for the hypertension.

Good luck.

thats what it sounds like to me too but if that is the case why would smoking an anlog relieve the symptoms? I had a lot of those symptoms when I first starting vaping ,they stopped after two days vaping. I just thought my nic level was to high and developed a tolerance to the higher level after a couple of days.

[frankie1]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I originally thought nic OD as well, but a cigarette should make that worse. These episodes occur when I have further cut nic from usual. I vape 6 mg liquid around 1 - 1.5 ml per day at most and smoke 5-6 cigs. It is when I cut the cigs but vape in the normal manner that I have problems. These also occur sporadically, not daily or even weekly. These levels are down from 1.5/2 PAD smoke habit. Usually at bedtime, which is a few hours after I have switched to virtually 0 nic liquid.

I wonder if some of the problems we have thought were nic OD might indeed be symptoms of withdrawal from cigarettes. Maybe if we can figure out my problems (since docs just seem to pooh pooh PVs) it might help others. At least that is my hope!

[WebJunkie]

In that case I would suggest trying some PG only liquids. I'm sure others will be able to recommend a source.

[Coffee Addict]

Something in cigarettes might be missing now.
Just think......the smoking cessation drug ZYBAN is just wellbutrin renamed.
Wellbutrin is an anti-depressent drug. They are both the same drug.

I too, am not a doctor, but still always wondered why they would prescribe anti-depressents to quit smoking.

Think about it.

[WebJunkie]

Something in cigarettes might be missing now.
Just think......the smoking cessation drug ZYBAN is just wellbutrin renamed.
Wellbutrin is an anti-depressent drug. They are both the same drug.

I too, am not a doctor, but still always wondered why they would prescribe anti-depressents to quit smoking.

Think about it.

My theory on that is happier people tend not to smoke.

They initially found people on welbutrin tended to stop smoking, and thus investigated. I was actually part of the clinical trials but had to move after the first few weeks and messed up timing and such.

Have tried it since and just missed smoking so much.

With vaping, I don't miss it. Yay.

Side note: Capella's French Toast likes to infect your attys. Or at least mine. Just a note. I'm a little sick of french toast at this point, haha.

[four2109]

Hi Frankie,
Why are you keeping your nicotine so low? I know this is in opposition to other responses, but I read the MAOI thread too. I had been diluting my 9/6mg juice to near nothing thinking maybe I would wean off of it. I got incredibly irritated, resting heart rate laying in bed at 120... anxiety. Yes, that's scary. I had some issues with heart rate before I found e-cigs and made a Dr appt then. Had a stress test... bla bla bla that's a good heart. I don't really know how my arteries are, but he said my heart is good.
Anyway, after reading the MAOI thread I upped my nicotine to 18/12 and bought some Passion Flower. Immediate relief. I posted in that thread but I don't know if you saw it. If the MAOI effect allows the build up of dopamine and seratonin, and you take that away and the nicotine that stimulates the release of them, I think it's a double whammy!
I switched from tobacco on 16/18mg, (whatever Npro high carts are) and didn't miss it at all, but I don't think I can give up nicotine yet... and maybe never...